Speech Writing: Features & Common Mistakes – SS1 English Lesson Note (Third Term)

Speech writing is the writing of a speech to be delivered aloud to an audience, usually to inform, persuade or entertain.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what listening for summary means;
2. identify keywords and key sentences in a passage;
3. state the format of a speech;
4. state the features of speech writing;
5. list common mistakes to avoid when writing a speech.

What is listening for summary?

Listening for summary is the ability to listen attentively to a passage and grasp the important information, such as the topic sentence and the main idea.

What are the steps in listening for summary?

1. Listen to the whole passage with full attention.
2. Note the keywords in each paragraph.
3. Pick out the key sentence of each paragraph.
4. Join the main ideas together in your own words.

How do you identify keywords from a passage?

Keywords are the words that relate to the main point of a passage.

• Look in each paragraph: find the important words that carry the main idea.
• Look for repetition: a word or idea that returns often is usually a keyword.
• Look at nouns and verbs: these usually carry more meaning than small words such as “the” or “and”.

How do you identify key sentences from a passage?

A key sentence is the sentence that states the main point of a paragraph, so it is also called the topic sentence.

• Position: it mostly comes at the beginning of the paragraph.
• Link to the topic: it relates directly to the topic of the paragraph.
• Purpose: it makes the reader want to read the following sentences to the end.

Example:

• Key sentence: “Reading widely improves a student’s vocabulary.”
• Keywords: reading, improves, vocabulary.

What is speech writing?

Speech writing is the process of writing a speech that is meant to be delivered to an audience.

• Clear purpose: every speech is written to inform, persuade or entertain.
• Well organised: the speech should be easy to follow.
• Language: it should be clear, concise and engaging.
• Delivery: it should be spoken with confidence.

What are the purposes of a speech?

There are three main purposes of a speech: to inform, to persuade and to entertain.

What is the format of a speech?

A written speech usually has a title, an address, an introduction, a body, a conclusion and a closing.

1. Title: states the topic and, where required, the occasion, for example “Speech on the Importance of Discipline”.
2. Address (salutation): greets the audience in order of rank, for example “The Principal, teachers, my dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.”
3. Introduction: states the topic and the purpose of the speech.
4. Body: gives the main points, one paragraph for each, with reasons or examples.
5. Conclusion: sums up the main message and may call the audience to action.
6. Closing: thanks the audience, for example “Thank you for listening.”

What are the features of speech writing?

The five main features of speech writing are clarity, conciseness, engagement, persuasion and delivery.

1. Clarity: the language is simple and the ideas follow a logical order.
2. Conciseness: the speech keeps to the point, with no rambling or going off on tangents.
3. Engagement: the speaker uses humour, anecdotes and other techniques to keep the audience’s attention.
4. Persuasion: a speech meant to persuade is well argued, with evidence and logic to support each point.
5. Delivery: the speaker is as important as the content, so he or she speaks clearly, confidently and makes eye contact.

What other devices make a speech effective?

• Direct address: words such as “you” and “we” draw the audience in.
• Rhetorical questions: questions asked for effect, not for an answer, make the audience think.
• Repetition: repeating an important phrase helps the audience remember it.
• Suitable tone: the level of formality fits the audience and the occasion.

What mistakes should you avoid when writing a speech?

Common mistakes in speech writing are stale expressions, jargon, wordiness, unsupported claims and poor preparation.

• Outdated or overused expressions: they make the speech sound stale and boring.
• Jargon: technical terms the audience may not understand. If you must use them, explain them in plain language.
• Being too wordy: get to the point and avoid rambling.
• Too much passive voice: active sentences are usually more direct and engaging.
• Unsupported claims: have evidence to back up what you say.
• Being too pessimistic: audiences respond better to a hopeful message.
• Being too self-promotional: focus on the message, not on yourself.
• Reading word for word: a speaker who never looks up sounds robotic and loses contact with the audience.
• Not practising enough: this leads to mistakes and makes you look unprepared.
• Leaving out the address or closing: a speech without a greeting or thanks is incomplete.

Evaluation

1. What is listening for summary?
2. What is a key sentence, and where does it usually appear in a paragraph?
3. State the five features of speech writing.
4. Why should a speaker explain jargon in plain language?
5. List four common mistakes to avoid when writing a speech.

Assignment

Read pages 188 and 189 of New Concept English for Senior Secondary Schools Book 1 and answer the following questions.

1. Write three key sentences from the passage.
2. Summarise in three sentences what you understand from the passage.
3. In two sentences, explain what an ordeal is.